A Brief Overview of Pharmacy
Calculations for Pharmacy
Technicians
Roman Numerals
Ratio & Proportion
Decimals
Rounding Numbers
Systems of Measurement
IV Calculations
Rhomell Calara, PharmD, CPh
Kevin McCarthy, RPh
Copyright PharmCon Inc 2010
A Brief Overview of Pharmacy Calculations for
Pharmacy Technicians
Speaker: Rhomell Calara has built a solid reputation as Central Florida's premiere Consultant Pharmacist. Rhomell received
his Doctorate of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University in1997. After he graduated with high honors, he did a residency
in Primary Care/Ambulatory care at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center. Rhomell is currently employed by the Department of
Veterans Affairs as a Clinical/Consultant Pharmacist for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and is currently the
President of Consultant Pharmacists of Central Florida (http://www.ConsultantRx.com).
Speaker Disclosure: Rhomell Calara has no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this program
This program has been brought to you by PharmCon
PharmCon, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a
provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Legal Disclaimer: The material presented here does not necessarily reflect the views of Pharmaceutical Education
Consultants (PharmCon) or the companies that support educational programming. A qualified healthcare professional should
always be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. Participants should verify all information and data
before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this educational activity.
A Brief Overview of Pharmacy Calculations for
Pharmacy Technicians
Accreditation:
Technicians: 0798-0000-09-094-L01-T
Target Audience: Technicians
CE Credits: 1.0 Continuing Education Hour or 0.1
CEU for technicians
Expiration Date: 11/17/2012
Program Overview: Accurately performing pharmaceutical calculations is a critical component in providing
patient care in every pharmacy practice environment and a vital part of any pharmacy technicians’ duty.
Although most pharmaceutical calculations are not overly difficult, they do require flawless accuracy.
Correct calculations contribute as much to patient outcomes as the newest methods and guidelines for
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; and errors in calculations can turn the best attempts at optimal patient
care catastrophic. This session will present an overview of pharmacy calculations for technicians.
Objectives:
•
•
•
Describe examples of common systems of measurement
Explain the process of percentage, ratio, and proportion and show how they apply to pharmacy
calculations
Solve common pharmacy calculations using mathematical skills reviewed in this activity
This program has been brought to you by PharmCon
Introduction
Speaker’s credentials and expertise or
experience in this topic.
State/review the importance of basic math
in the practice of pharmacy
Program Objectives
Define the common systems of measurement
Explain the process of percentage, ratio, and
proportion and show how they apply to
pharmacy calculations
Be able to solve practical problems using
mathematical skills discussed in this talk
Roman Numerals
Used in writing prescriptions.
Used to specify the amounts of ingredients
or quantity to be dispensed.
Used in the directions to the patient.
Roman Numeral Symbols
ss = one-half
I = one
V = five
X = ten
L = fifty
C = one hundred
M = one thousand
Roman Numerals
Three Cardinal Rules:
#1 If a symbol follows another symbol of
equal or greater value, the two symbols are
added together
#2 If a symbol follows another symbol of
lower value, the lower value is subtracted
from the higher value
#3 First perform any necessary subtraction,
then add the resulting values together to get
the final answer
ss= one-half
I = one
V = five
X = ten
L = fifty
C = one
hundred
Roman Numerals
QUESTION 1:
IX =
?
QUESTION 2:
CXXII = ?
QUESTION 3:
20 = ?
Roman Numerals
QUESTION 1:
IX =
9
QUESTION 2:
CXXII = 122
QUESTION 3:
20 = XX
Roman Numerals - Real Life
Ratio and Proportion
Proportions will be your most used pharmacy
calculation
Solve most dosage calculations
Numerous applications in everyday life
Used when two expressions are directly related to
one another
For instance, if 1 kg of drug cost us $5, how much
2 kg cost?
will
both expressions contain cost per weight
if they are set up as ratios, once the problem is
solved, both ratios should be equal
Ratio and Proportion
A ratio is the relation between like numbers
or values, or a way to express a fractional
part of a whole. Ratios may be written:
As a fraction: 2/3
With the ratio or colon sign: 2:3
Using "per": 2 milliliters per 3 hours
(2ml/3hr)
Ratio and Proportion
The strength or concentration of various drugs can
be expressed as a ratio. First, read the label of the
drug and find the strength or concentration.
Express this strength as a ratio in fractional form,
as in the following examples:
Tolnaftate solution, 10 mg per ml = 10 mg/1 ml
Kanamycin injection, 1.0 gm/3 ml = 1.0 gm/3 ml
Isoproterenol inhalation, 1:200 = 1/200
Ratio and Proportion
A proportion consists of two equal ratios and
is essentially a statement of equality
between two ratios. For example:
2
--5
=
4
--10
Ratio and Proportion
Example 2.
You have a 10-ml vial of aminophylline
labeled "25 mg per ml".
How many milliliters must be injected to
administer a dose of 125 mg?
Ratio and Proportion
Example 1.
You have a 10-ml vial of aminophylline labeled "25 mg per ml".
How many milliliters must be injected to administer a dose of
125 mg?
25 mg
125 mg
-------- = ----------1 ml
X ml
25mg (X) = (1 ml) (125 mg)
X = 5 ml
Ratio and Proportion
Example 2. How many milliliters must be injected
from an ampule of Prochlorperazine labeled "10
mg/2 ml" in order to administer a dose of 7.5 mg?
Ratio and Proportion
Example 2. How many milliliters must be injected from an
ampule of Prochlorperazine labeled "10 mg/2 ml" in order
to administer a dose of 7.5 mg?
10 mg
--------
7.5 mg
=
-----------
2 ml
X ml
10mg (X) = (2 ml) (7.5 mg)
X = 1.5 ml
Ratio and Proportion
A formula calls for 42 capsules of
300mg of drug. How many milligrams
would be required to make 24
capsules?
Ratio and Proportion
A formula calls for 42 capsules of 300mg of drug. How
many milligrams would be required to make 24
capsules?
300mg =
x
42 caps
24 caps
7,200 = 171.4 mg
42
Ratio and Proportion – Real
Life
One person's error killed Elisha Crews Bryant,
hospital officials said:
“a miscalculation overdosed the pregnant 18-yearold with a magnesium sulfate meant to slow her
labor. She got 16 grams when she should have
gotten 4 grams. The young mother began having
trouble breathing, went into cardiac arrest and
could not be revived.”
Ratio and Proportion – Real
Life
Patient received 16 gms Mag. Sulfate, fatal
dose.
Patient should have received 4 gms.
How many ML @ 25 gm/50 ml should she
have received?
Ratio and Proportion – Real Life
How many ML @ 25 gm/50 ml should she
have received to obtain 4 gms??
25 gm
-------- =
50 ml
4 gm
----------X ml
25gm X = 200 gm/ml
X = 8 ml
Percentage Preparations
Three types of percentage preparations
• Percent weight-in-weight (wt/wt)
X Grams / 100 Grams
• Percent volume-in-volume (v/v)
X Milliliters / 100 Milliliters
• Percent weight-in-volume (wt/v)*
X Grams / 100 Milliliters
Most Common
Percentage Preparations
Example 1. How much Potassium Chloride
in grams is needed to prepare a 1 Liter
solution of 3% KCl solution?
Percentage Preparations
Example 1. How much Potassium Chloride
in grams is needed to prepare a 1 Liter
solution of 3% KCl solution?
Answer: 3% = 3 grams / 100mls
1 Liter = 1000 mls
Next: 3 grams
X grams
---------- = ----------100 mls
1000 mls
Finally: x = 30 grams
Decimals
–Three general rules when working
with decimals
#1 Never leave a decimal point “uncovered”
- too easy to misread and make a mistake
#2 Unless working with money, Never add zeros to the right of the
decimal point
-the end signifies the accuracy of the number
#3 The answer you get can be only as accurate as the least accurate
number used in the calculation
Rounding Numbers
– If the number following the place you are
rounding to is 5 or higher, you round up
– If the number following the place you are
rounding to is 4 or lower, you round down
Try some rounding
10.359 to tenths
10.4
0.143 to hundredths
0.14
9.9982 to thousandths
9.998
Systems of Measurement
THREE SYSTEMS
– Avoirdupois
-(household system)
– Metric
– Apothecary
-(rarely used)
Metric System
CONVERSION FACTORS
Micro – one millionth
Milli – one thousandth
Centi – one hundredth
Deci – one tenth
Kilo – one thousand
Metric System
1000mcg = 1mg
1000mg = 1g
1000g = 1kg
1000ml = 1L
Metrics are expressed in the form of decimals
ie.) 300ml = 0.3L
Avoirdupois Conversion Factors
3 tsp = 1 tbsp
2 tbsp = 1 oz
16 oz = 1 pt
2 pt = 1 qt
4 qt = 1 G
16oz = 1 lb
Conversion Factors Between Systems
1 tsp = 5 ml
1 tbsp = 15 ml
1 oz = 30 ml (29.57ml)
1 pt = 480 ml (473ml)
1 G = 3840 ml(3784ml)
1 g = 15.4 gr
1 gr = 60 mg (64.8mg)
1 kg = 2.2 lb
1 lb = 454 g
1 oz = 30 gm
Conversions
6.3 oz = ? ml
Arrange the units so they will cancel and solve
Value
6.3 oz
x
Conversion Factor
x
30ml
1oz
= Answer
=
189 ml
The units of ounces cancel, and you are left with milliliters
Try This One
1.3 kg = ? grams
Value x Conversion Factor x Conversion Factor = Answer
1.3 kg
x
2.2 lb
1kg
x
454g = 1,298g
1lb
Or
Approximatley 1,300 gm
Conversion
You receive a prescription for Cefzil
250mg/5mls with directions to take 1
teaspoonful by mouth twice daily for 10
days.
• How much drug in milligrams, is in one
teaspoonful?
• How much Cefzil in milliliters do you have
to give the patient to last the full 10 days?
Parenteral (IV) Calculations
Parenteral calculations deal with
administration of IV fluids
Two main concepts you will learn
- Flow Rate
- Dose per Time
Flow Rate Calculations
Flow rate is the speed at which an IV solution
is delivered
Function of Volume per Time
- usually reported in milliliters per hour
The magical formula
volume ÷ time = flow rate
Always be sure which time and volume units you are being asked to
solve for
Is it ml/min ? Or l/hr? Something else?
Flow Rate Calculations
A patient receives 1 L of IV solution over a 3 hour period.
Calculate the flow rate in ml/hr.
Note: the volume given is in liters, but the answer asks for
milliliters. If the conversion wasn’t so obvious, we would first
need to do a conversion of L ml.
volume
÷
time
=
flow rate
1000 ml ÷ 3 hours = 333 ml/hr
Another Rate Problem
A patient receives 0.75L of IV
solution over a 4 hour
period. Calculate the flow
rate in ml/hr
Another Rate Problem
A patient receives 0.75L of IV solution over a 4 hour
period. Calculate the flow rate in ml/hr
Now the conversion is a bit harder, so we do the math
0.75 L
1
x
1000ml =
1L
750ml
750 ml ÷ 4 hours = 188 ml/hr
Solve for Time
By manipulating the rate formula, we can
solve for time
The equation becomes:
volume ÷ rate = time
Solving for Time
If an IV is run at 125ml/hr, how long
will 1 L last?
Solving for Time
If an IV is run at 125ml/hr, how long will 1 L last?
volume ÷ rate = time
1000 ml = 8
125ml/hr
hours
Milliliters cancel and you are left with the units of hours
Solving for Volume
Play with the formula some more, and now
we can solve for volume
The equation becomes:
rate x time = volume
Solving for Volume
How many ml of IV
solution would be
required to run an
IV for 12 hours at a
rate of 60 ml/hr?
Solving for Volume
How many ml of IV solution would be required to run an IV
for 12 hours at a rate of 60 ml/hr?
rate x time = volume
IT’S REALLY JUST A CONVERSION PROBLEM!
60 ml
1hr
x 12 hr
1
= 720 ml
Solving for Volume
What volume would we need to have on
hand if an IV solution is to be run for 100
ml/hr for 8.3 hrs?
Solving for Volume
What volume would we need to have on hand if an
IV solution is to be run for 100 ml/hr for 8.3 hrs?
100 ml
1 hr
x
8.3 hr
=
830 ml
Any Questions?
ARE YOU READY FOR THE
“PHARMACY
TECHNICIAN MATH
CONTEST”
ON-LINE COMPETITION!
This is Pope John the 22nd, what
would that be in Roman Numerals?
This is Pope John the 22nd, what
would that be in Roman Numerals?
Pope John XXII
Question: What number super bowl
is illustrated below, and, what team
won the game?
Question: What number super bowl
is illustrated below, and, what team
won the game?
Super Bowl 43, won by
the Pittsburgh Steelers
What is the sum of
XLVI + IX
in Roman Numerals?
What is the sum of
XLVI + IX
in Roman Numerals?
46 + 9 = 55 or LV
• If a customer asked to buy 10 packages of
Sudafed, containing 20 tablets of 30 mg
Pseudoephedrine, how many milligrams of
Pseudoephedrine is she purchasing?
• Why would she want so much Sudafed?
•
If a customer asked to buy 10 packages of Sudafed,
containing 20 tablets of 30 mg Pseudoephedrine, how
many milligrams of Pseudoephedrine is he purchasing?
10 Packs X 20 Tabs X 30 mg = 6000 mg
• Why would she want so much Sudafed?
– Key ingredient in the making of
methamphetamine
• Your customer now has 6000 mg of
Pseudoephedrine. If it takes 1800 mg of
Pseudoephedrine to make 6 gm of crystal
meth, how many grams can she make?
• Your customer now has 6000 mg of Pseudoephedrine. If it
takes 1800 mg of Pseudoephedrine to make 6 grams of
crystal meth, how many grams can she make?
1800 mg PSE
----------------6 gm Crys Meth
Meth
6000 mg PSE
= --------------------X gm Crys
(1800mg PSE)( X )=( 6000 mg PSE)(6gm Cry
Meth)
1800 mg X = 36000 mg/gm
X = 20 gm
• Your Meth addict now has 20 gm of drug.
• She wants to make a nasal solution
containing 25% crystal meth. How many
ml of normal saline solution does she need
to make a 25% solution?
• Your Meth addict now has 20 gm of drug.
• She wants to make a nasal solution
containing 25% crystal meth. How many
ml of normal saline solution does she need
to make a 25% solution?
25 gm
----------------100 ml
=
20 gm PSE
--------------------X ml Saline
(25 gm( X )=( 20 gm PSE)(100 ml)
X = 80 ml
Pharmacy Technician Josh is traveling
in Europe. He needs to fill up his rental
car. Gas cost only $1.25 per liter.
Technician Josh is excited that gas is so
cheap.
What would the cost of gas be in
gallons?
Hint: 1 pint = 473 milliliters
Pharmacy Technician Josh is traveling
in Europe. He needs to fill up his rental
car. Gas cost only $1.25 per liter.
Technician Josh is so excited that gas is
so cheap.
What would the cost of gas be in
473 ml gallons?8 pint
1 liter
$1.25
--------
x
-----------
x
----------
x ---------
$4.73 gal
1 pint
1 gal
1000 ml
1 liter
=
Round to the nearest
Thousand
1) 14,389 _________
2) 29,610 _________
3) 3,492 _________
Round to the nearest
Thousand
1) 14,389 14,000
2) 29,610 30,000
3) 3,492 3,000
Round to the nearest
tenth
1) 0.89 _________
2) 2.673 _________
3) 2.57 _________
Round to the nearest
tenth
1) 0.89 0.9
2) 2.673 2.7
3) 2.57 2.6
What is the flow rate in ml/hr if
1 liter Starbucks Coffee with
100% french roast is given
over 12 hours???
83.3 ml/hr
(1 liter = 1000 ml)
1000 ml/12 hours = 83.3ml/hr
Try and solve this problem ;o)
The Recommended dose of meperidine
(demerol) is 6mg/kg/24hrs for pain. It is given
in divided doses of every 4 to 6 hours. How
many milliliters (ml) of demerol injection (50
mg/ml) should be administered to a 33 pound
child as a single dose every 6 hours?
1. The first step is to calculate the daily dose
for a 33 pound child
6 mg___
=
____x mg
1 Kg (2.2 pounds)
33
pounds
*By inserting the conversion unit 2.2 pounds
for 1kg in the ratio there is no need to do a
separate calculation of the number of
kilograms in 33 pounds.
X = 90 mg of demerol per day (24 hours)
2. The next step is to calculate the number of
milliliters of demerol injection (50 mg/ml)
needed for the total daily dose
50mg
= 90mg
1 ml
x ml
50x = 90
X = 1.8 ml every 24 hours
3. The final step is to calculate the number of
milliliters to be given every 6 hours
1.8 ml = x ml
24 hrs
6 hrs
24x = 10.8
X = 0.45
ml
**So therefore the amount of demerol
(50mg/ml) to be administered is 0.45 ml
every 6 hours **
Any Questions?
Any Questions?